The Bombay High Court yesterday fined two BJP MLAs, 12 BJP workers and an MNS worker of Rs 3.1 lakh for putting up illegal hoardings in the city. MLAs Ashish Shelar and Parag Alavani were asked to bring demand drafts of Rs 25,000 each and the workers of Rs 20,000 each on the next hearing of the case on February 26.

The high court has been hearing a petition filed by Janhit Manch, an NGO, about illegal hoardings put up in the state. Shelar’s lawyer told the bench of Justice Abhay Oka and C V Bhadang that they were warned by the BMC before they installed the hoardings. He also presented an unconditional apology before the bench.

“We need to set an example and send a strong message about illegal hoardings to all parties,” said the bench observing the petition. The bench had earlier warned all parties about illegal hoardings put up by party members.

Advocate Uday Warunjikar appearing for SuSwaraj Foundation, one of the petitioners, asked the bench if the money could be given to NGOs like Naam Foundation, that works for the upliftment of farmers, who are committing suicide.

The BMC had earlier submitted a compliance report in HC saying that it had acted against around 15,021 illegal hoardings and banners in 2015 and had registered around 127 FIRs the same year.

It was also brought to the court’s notice that Shiv Sena had also put some illegal hoardings in the city and the HC bench that will be hearing the matter on February 26 take a decision on it.